...the incredibly sweet woman behind the counter at Whole Foods asked me today. What do I do? Wait...what DO I DO? This simple question left me a bit speechless...mouth open, and eyes looking upwards to the creative side of my brain for an acceptable answer. I think I told her I was an aspiring magician...and then quickly changed the subject. Before taking on this next chapter in life, I worked in TV production. I spent no less than 12 hours a day working (commuting included.) That's half of my 24 hour day, 50% (former mathelete.) So then I started thinking about all of the ways I spend my days...and what it would be like if we knew how many days we had left. And more importantly...how am I spending my time?
In life, in my experience, I find that we are commonly defined by all the things surrounding our, "self." Our jobs, our words, our actions, our homes, clothes, cars, friends. When we are asked "what we do?" We are salesmen, we are artists, we are bankers, doctors, directors, teachers. When we are asked "where do we live?" We live in big homes, small condos, our parents home, a roommate share, the woods. When we are asked about "who we love?" We are single, married, dating, divorced, widowed, parents, siblings... And all of these questions define our exterior self. For all of these "things" are merely circumstantial achievements. What we are failing to ask is "who we are?" I am not a TV producer, I am not single, I am not a brother, son, friend. I am not white, black, Asian. Tall, short, fat or skinny. Rich or poor. These are all fabricated definitions to qualify and quantify our beings. Ways of placing labels that makes it easier for us to "define" one another. To place us in boxes. I am none of these things, and I am all of these things. I am love. I am energy. I am here, alone and with everyone.
I started doing some rough stats on my own life, and quickly realized someone must have already done this leg work. Of course someone has. So here it is below: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fascinating-facts-about-how-we-spend-the-days-410973 Now if you're more of a visual type of person, I highly recommend this video as well.
5 months: spent complaining.
115 days: spent laughing.
3,000 hours: are used shaving.
20 weeks: spent being on hold.
9 hours, 18 seconds: amount of time males spend orgasming & 1 hour, 24 minutes: amount of time females spend orgasming.
46,800 hours: we spend doing housework.
5 years: we use by being online.
658 hours: spent cuddling and being romantic.
11 years: spent sitting in front of the television.
38,003 hours: we spend eating.
99,117 hours: spent at work.
136 days: women spend getting ready.
4 years: are spent being on the phone at work.
366 days: are spent being sick.
6 months: how long we end up waiting in line.
23,214 hours: spent washing clothes.
26 years: spent sleeping.
160 days: spent smoking cigarettes on break.
7 years: how long we lie awake at night.
653 hours: spent waiting for trains.
46 days: men spend getting ready.
2,170 hours: spent sunbathing.
An exercise for a moment. Strip everything you know that defines you, away. Take away your hobbies, your family, your support system, your profession, your life, your clothes even. You are left in an empty room naked, with only a mirror. You will remain here as long as need be. Looking at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? This is who you are. When you can look at this person in the mirror and connect, without the noise of everything else...this is how you can be defined.
I find it fascinating that we struggle with being alone. The idea of sitting in a room with no TV, no cell phone, no communication for most...is mind bending. To not quite the noise of the mind is to not fully know ones self. We are the most complicated and phenomenal of creatures in some ways, as we are the only animals that are cognizant of our own brains. How incredible? We have the capability utilizing this organ to learn endless amounts of information. To aid others in need. To make changes in the world, bigger than we could ever imagine. Now Take these thoughts and the new definition of yourself, and ask yourself another question. What is it that you want to do in this life? Now you go do that.